A new City park is being built in a high-crime corner of northeast Dallas.
On Wednesday, the City Council approved funding for the construction of a new park at the corner of Forest Lane and Audelia Road. The location is currently the site of a strip mall and has long been considered a hotbed for crime.
The location has been the frequent subject of 911 calls made to Dallas police for years regarding alleged drug activity and violent crime.
Last year, a woman was killed in a shooting that occurred in this area. In the same incident, her daughter was shot in the stomach and taken to the hospital. In November, a man was killed in a hit-and-run accident that occurred near the same corner.
A police substation will be included in the recreation center being built alongside the park, which could help alleviate the burden crime has imposed on this area, as reported in The Dallas Morning News.
“When I first started meeting with the youth in this area, the request was, ‘Can we get a swing set?'” said Council Member Adam McGough last month, per The Dallas Morning News. “That was the level of need that they have here.”
The design and construction of the park will cost Dallas taxpayers about $7.5 million. The park itself will include a playground, a basketball court, and a pavilion along with other amenities.
A multipurpose recreation center will be built alongside the park. In addition to the police substation, it will include a recreation center and a library. A boxing gym already found at the site will be preserved.
The neighborhood park is the first phase of the project and will cost about $1.9 million, while the second phase — the recreation center — will cost about $5.6 million.
The resolution adopted by the City Council on Wednesday extends the Skillman Corridor Tax Increment Financing District to include the area where the park will be built. The City will then be able to allocate $5.5 million in tax dollars from that district to this project.
The item was approved with no discussion from the council members. The additional $2 million of spending needed will be drawn from other City funds.
With funding for the park now approved by the City Council, construction could reportedly begin as early as this spring.
Would you rather see those criminals at Clyde warren park? Or stay at a park in their own neighborhood , with a police station , to try to deter them from crime. It will not stop crime.! Crime will always be here, no matter who the chief of police is, or where you build a new park, just a place to gather. That area has so many apartments, where there is lack of home ownership crime really escalates, from what I observe. Or anywhere where there is a lot of rental property. We can only pray for the best.
That’s a great use of funds. Give the kids and grownups somethings that interest their minds. Cooking classes won’t hurt either. People love to cook and try new ideas.
The good news is the Police substation and children having an opportunity to go outside and play. That’s why we have so many problems with children who are inside on a computer or play stations simulating how to kill someone.
Might be costly but so are the lives of children, they are worth it.
Slinging dope is a stressful job. People need a relaxing place to transact their business.
I am very happy to hear about these plans!
That’s typical of government. Cause the problem and then spend taxpayers’ money to fix it. In the 70s, 80s and 90s that was a nice area to live. Then section 8 housing was introduced in the area apartments. With that, the crime rate started going up and nice businesses moved out.
The area looks like a sh.thole compared to what it used to.
Urban decay brought on by government action/inaction.
Maybe, but it has not been a nice area for the last two decades. I wouldn’t say that Forest Lame was the place people wanted to live.
Unfortunately what you said about the area is true but having a park is good to keep children occupied, with security nearby
My first thought was a police station seems more appropriate before I saw they are adding a station. Glad to see it.
That is great for families that are forced to live in these horrific areas of Dallas. Might want to consider taking ½ the money for first year to make the environment safe, then build as people dare live in the area and safely go out to play. I am sure there are many citizens trained to safely defend themselves and others if the City does not. Kids need this park and they need a safe neighborhood to get there in. It will help if everyone stops buying the illegal drugs as there will be no demand for three criminals to profit from.
Do we all sing kumbaya now?
Wow it’s just a pass over to the oak cliff 🙃 park by Dallas zoo all the hold up !
Just think 🤔 of all the awesome things that can come out of the Neighborhoods in oak cliff for
A park that is over do for years a new park .
We have so many people that live in oak cliff that have the pull to get done ✔
Come on..
Frank .
Yeah, this park will really resolve everything, won’t it? (NOPE) Great way to spend City of Dallas taxpayer money! (NOT). This will merely encourage more criminals to move in a fight over this new and improved space for them to conduct their assaults and sell their drugs.
When I first moved to Dallas I lived in this area. They had new apartments and a Chili’s and an Albertsons’ and nice stores. As I and others moved north this place filled with lower income residents and Chili’s closed as did Albertsons and most of the nice stores. Build nice homes and this wont happen.
Yet another example of Dallas Express’ short-sighted view of urban renewal. Let’s just let the neighborhood disintegrate even further! That’ll fix things! WE’LL SHOW THOSE LOW LIFES!
The biggest problem is our judicial system is doing nothing about the criminals. This is putting a bandaid on a bullet wound. They’re building a Disneyland in the middle of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Waste of tax payer’s money. And how the hell is that $7mill? Someone is pocketing that money somewhere. So spend $7mill so the drug dealers will have a spot to sell their drugs to your kids. NO THANK YOU!!! You’re going to hear there’s a shooting at that new park every day on the news. I rather spend that money on hiring more police officers and giving officers better benefits so they would want to stay on the police force.
Well, time will tell how the park will fare. I just feel some stupid, ignorant gang will try to take over – but, at least there will be a police substation there, so there’s that. Good luck city council, at least you’re trying.
I just wonder how long until Walmart
Gives Dallas the finger and starts closing stores like they are doing in Portland and other major cities. 7.5 million could have paid for a few police…..